Beat The Sun: Here’s How You Can Stay Safe During A Heat Wave

Heat waves have been known to claim more lives than floods, lightning, hurricanes and other natural disasters.

The heat wave has already made a deadly entry in India this year, claiming as many as five lives in Maharashtra in the first month of summer alone. The threat is so severe that the state has set up special rooms in government hospitals and medical colleges to treat patients affected by the heat wave.

People are reeling under severe temperatures in at least eight other states. As the summer sun grows hotter, let’s examine what a heat wave really is and what we can do to combat it.

What is a Heat Wave?

According to the Indian Meteorological Department, a heat wave is a prolonged period of hot weather, when the maximum temperatures rise 4.5-6.4 degrees above normal.

Heat wave conditions are a result of trapped air over a certain region for a long period.

Some of the common effects of heat wave include severe crop failure, loss of lives due to hyperthermia and acute water shortage. Heat waves have been known to claim more lives than floods, lightning, hurricanes and other natural disasters.

How To Stay Safe During a Heat Wave

Being exposed to severe temperatures puts you at high risk of contracting diseases. Here are some basic tips to keep in mind while combating rising mercury levels: